Passion for Truth, The Life of John Henry Newman, narrates Newman’s youth, education, friendships, and search for religious truth.

The author, Fr. Juan R. Vélez, relates the events that led to Newman’s conversion, from Evangelical Protestantism through Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism.

The biography, released by TAN/St. Benedict’s Press in March 2012, contains numerous passages from Newman’s letters, which convey his religious thoughts and theological arguments.

Passion for Truth paints a picture of Newman’s intellectual honesty and courage in the pursuit of religious truth. Newman was guided by God’s revelation in S. Scripture, the teaching of the Church and the writings of the Church Fathers.

One of the defining points of his life was a life-threatening illness in Sicily which strengthened his resolve to safeguard religious truths. Newman was imbued with a sense of mission. He understood that God wished him to work for the renewal of the Anglican Church. On June 16, 1833, while at sea on his return to England from the Mediterranean, Newman wrote:

LEAD, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home—
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene—one step enough for me.